Ecole Russe, Venice

As the 19th century progressed, instead of admiring distant European countries, Russian artists took renewed interest in Russia’s unique character. As they moved away from Westernizing forces, Realism permeated Russian culture, as artists became interested in representing subjects from everyday life and from Russian history. With the rise in national spirit, genre painting, which focused on scenes from everyday life, gained strength. What had been considered an inferior branch of the arts, now established itself as a valuable part of the Russian artistic heritage generating a new interest in peasant life, culture, and traditional costumes. Other painters examined the middle class. Their works provide early examples of social criticism, a trend that would increase in the second half of the century.